U.S. And Tanzania Strengthen Medical Collaboration in Historic Exercise

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – A first-of-its-kind medical readiness exercise, spearheaded by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Angela Ling, has marked a significant milestone in the collaboration between U.S. And Tanzanian medical professionals. The exercise, a key component of Justified Accord 26 (JA26), took place from March 2-12, 2026, at Lugalo General Military Hospital in Dar es Salaam and Msata Military Training Base.

A Partnership in Action

Lt. Col. Ling, the lead medical readiness exercise planner for Justified Accord 26 with the 155th Medical Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, transformed the Nebraska-Tanzania State Partnership Program into a real-world operational readiness demonstration. The exercise focused on providing care in resource-constrained environments and strengthening long-term collaboration between the two nations.

Tailored Training for Tanzanian Needs

The exercise wasn’t a pre-packaged U.S. Plan imposed on Tanzania. Instead, Lt. Col. Ling prioritized the specific needs of Tanzanian partners. “We collaborate with the host nation about the types of specialties they prefer,” Ling explained. “It’s not just what Nebraska has available, it’s what they necessitate and desire, and then how do we improve readiness by fulfilling their needs.” A joint team comprised of U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force units from the Nebraska National Guard and active-duty personnel was assembled to meet those needs.

From Nurse to Operational Planner

Lt. Col. Ling’s journey to leading this historic exercise is rooted in a long and dedicated career in healthcare and the National Guard. Her passion for global health was ignited during a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, where she earned the affectionate nickname “Mama Ling” from locals she treated. Commissioned in 2007, she served 12 years on active duty as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner before joining the Nebraska National Guard in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved pivotal in her career trajectory. At the request of the Nebraska governor, she oversaw all COVID-19 operations for the state, including testing, vaccinations, and the establishment of alternate care facilities. This experience cemented her transition from a clinical provider to a large-scale operational planner.

Leveraging Technology for Improved Readiness

The Tanzania exercise also introduced the Medical Currency Application for Readiness Tracking 2.0 (MCART 2.0), a cloud-enabled medical tracking platform developed by the U.S. Air Force. This marked the first time MCART 2.0 had been used in an Army-led military exercise and the first time the capability had been deployed in Africa. The modular system allows medical professionals to log patient encounters, procedures, diagnoses, and clinical hours via a mobile interface, providing valuable data for assessing and improving medical readiness.

Building Lasting Relationships

Beyond the immediate training benefits, the exercise aimed to foster lasting relationships and shared responsibility for regional security. Lt. Col. Ling emphasized the importance of consistent communication and trust-building. “The relationship takes more than one engagement,” she said. “It builds over multiple visits as you get to know and trust each other.”

Justified Accord 26: A Broader Regional Exercise

This medical readiness exercise was part of Justified Accord 26, U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 was hosted in Djibouti, Kenya, and Tanzania. The exercise focused on increasing multinational interoperability, supporting humanitarian assistance and crisis response, preparing regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and enhancing the readiness of the U.S. Joint force. U.S. Africa Command provides further details on the exercise.

For Lt. Col. Ling, the success of the Tanzania exercise is deeply rewarding. “This fills my cup,” she said. “Having the opportunity to plan these missions brings me a lot of joy.”